Valencia’s Water Boat Fountain uses water streams to mimic a sailing vessel.
The simple metal frame sprays water, creating both the sail and hull. At first glance the image looks like a real boat caught in a soaking surge, but it is actualy a clever design sprinkling liquid from man-made pores. Located at Playa de la Malvarrosa in Valencia Spain, this fountain is known locally as Fuente del Barco de Agua.
One is left baffeled by the minimal construction.
Made from aluminum, marble and granite, the fountain sits in the center of a small round basin, so the vessel appears to float. The square around it offers comfortable benches, equiped with backrests, where holidaymakers rest on the hot day and graze on the panaroma of the coast.
In the evening the couples gather at the wells to graze on the sparkling waters under the sunset.
Photograers spend days choosing the best position to capture the mysterious boat, whose sail seems to ‘burn’ in the sunlight. At night the ilumination adds a dramatic glow, making a visit after dark equally rewarding.
Similar designs exist in Portugal and Israel, yet Valencia’s version draws the most foreign attention.
You can even explore a 360 view on Google Maps if you cannot see it in person.
This fountain exemplifies environmental art, a division that integrates sculpture with public spaces. The Land Art movement, emerging in the 1960s, often used natural elements. Robert Smithson pioneered this school with Spiral Jetty; He transformed remote landscapes. His approach inspired playful urban interventions, yet Smithson’s work remains monumental, while this piece is delightfully modest.
“Art is the creation of forms symbolic of human feeling.” — Susanne Langer
“Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” — Oscar Wilde